GEITA: THE cooperative sector in Geita Region has developed into one of the most important pillars of agricultural and rural economic organisation, bringing together thousands of farmers, traders and small-scale producers under structured associations.
The region currently hosts 629 cooperative societies with an estimated 50,088 registered members. Of these members, 36,194 are men and 13,894 are women, reflecting both the scale of participation and the continuing gender imbalance in formal cooperative membership.
Beyond registered members, cooperatives in Geita indirectly support more than 35,519 additional farmers who are not formal members but rely on cooperative services. These services include access to agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers, as well as structured access to crop markets.
This broader reach has positioned cooperatives as essential intermediaries in rural production systems, particularly in improving market linkages for smallholder farmers who would otherwise face significant barriers in selling their produce.
The cooperative network in Geita primarily benefits farmers engaged in cotton, tobacco, and a wide range of food crops. These include cowpeas, green gram, pigeon peas, lentils, sunflower, and rice. These crops form the backbone of both household food security and commercial agriculture in the region, making cooperatives critical actors in the agricultural value chain.
According to the Office of the Registrar of Cooperatives in Geita Region, out of the 629 registered societies, 304 are currently active and functioning in compliance with established regulations. The remaining societies are either dormant or operating below expected standards, reflecting ongoing structural and financial challenges within the sector.
The cooperative landscape is composed of several categories. It includes three major umbrella cooperatives, 243 Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies (AMCOS), 17 mining cooperatives, nine cooperatives classified under other sectors, and four horticultural cooperatives specialising in vegetable production.
Additionally, Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS), which once numbered 270, have undergone significant consolidation and deregistration processes, leaving only 28 operational entities. During a Cooperative Forum held in April 2026 in Katoro within Geita District, Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives for the region, Ms Doreen Mwanri, provided an assessment of the sector’s performance. She noted that while a portion of cooperatives remain active and compliant, others are dormant, and some continue to struggle with operational sustainability.
Efforts are ongoing to revive underperforming societies through administrative reforms and technical support. One of the key reform strategies introduced in the region is the digitisation of cooperative operations through the MUVU system, a digital platform used for registration, monitoring, and management of cooperative societies.
This system is intended to enhance transparency, reduce administrative inefficiencies, and improve oversight across all cooperative activities. Investigations conducted by cooperative authorities have also revealed instances where some crop-based cooperatives are being exploited by individuals who are not registered members.
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These individuals reportedly use cooperative structures for personal gain, undermining the intended collective benefit model of the system. Authorities have indicated that corrective measures are being implemented to restore accountability and enforce membership integrity.
Despite these challenges, there has been measurable progress. Within a single year, the number of active cooperatives increased from 289 in the 2024/25 financial year to 304 in 2025/26. This growth reflects both rehabilitation efforts and improved administrative oversight within the sector.
However, Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Societies continue to face major financial constraints. The most pressing issues include limited working capital and mounting debts, particularly within cotton and tobacco value chains.
These debts involve obligations between cooperatives and purchasing companies, as well as unpaid levies and arrears owed to farmers. Current outstanding cottonrelated debts owed by AMCOS to purchasing companies amount to approximately 163 million shillings.
In addition, local government levy claims stand at about 52 million shillings, while debts owed to tobacco farmers total approximately 218 million shillings. These financial pressures continue to restrict the liquidity and operational efficiency of many cooperatives.
Despite these constraints, crop-based cooperatives have contributed significantly to improving agricultural input distribution. They have enhanced access to seeds, fertilisers, and other essential inputs, while also promoting structured crop marketing through the Warehouse Receipt System.
This system has improved storage, reduced post-harvest losses, and strengthened farmers’ bargaining power in the market. The Warehouse Receipt System has also played a role in curbing the smuggling of commercial crops such as tobacco, cotton, sunflower, and lentils.
By centralising storage and documentation, the system has introduced greater control and traceability in agricultural trade. As a result of these interventions, agricultural production has increased notably across key crops. Cotton production rose from 6,250 tons valued at 8.5 billion shillings in 2024/25 to 11,022 tons valued at 13.2 billion shillings in 2025/26.
Tobacco production increased from 1,690 tons valued at 10.1 billion shillings to 2,142 tons valued at 13.4 billion shillings over the same period. Lentil production recorded the most dramatic growth, rising from 83 tons valued at 134 million shillings to 2,921 tons valued at 2.8 billion shillings.
To further strengthen transparency in trade, cotton buyers have been instructed to adopt digital weighing scales. This initiative has already been implemented in regions such as Shinyanga, Simiyu and Kigoma, and is now being extended to Geita.
The digital systems provide farmers with accurate measurements of their produce and ensure fair payment calculations. These weighing systems are also being integrated with banking and mobile payment platforms to improve financial efficiency.
According to officials, this integration will reduce delays in payments and minimise financial losses, particularly in the tobacco sector where payment delays have historically been a major challenge. Financial cooperatives (SACCOS) have also shown improvement in lending capacity.
Loans issued to members increased from 472 million shillings in 2024/25 to 898 million shillings in 2025/26, indicating stronger financial activity and improved member participation in credit systems.
Assistant Administrative Secretary for Economy and Production, Dr Elfas Msenya, emphasised that cooperatives in Geita are increasingly focusing on strategic crops such as lentils to drive transformation in the agricultural sector.
He noted that the Warehouse Receipt System has significantly contributed to the commercialisation of agriculture and improved income stability for farmers. However, he stressed the importance of continued education for cooperative members.
Strengthening managerial capacity, improving financial literacy, and engaging professional experts are essential steps in preventing mismanagement and ensuring sustainable growth. Geita Regional Cooperative Chairperson, Said Tangawizi, highlighted that meaningful cooperative reform requires substantial investment in agribusiness infrastructure.
He pointed to the need for modern storage facilities capable of handling large-scale crop production, alongside proper maintenance systems to ensure long-term usability. He also emphasised that sustainable cooperative development depends on fair pricing mechanisms and reliable market access. Without these, farmers remain vulnerable to exploitation and unstable income conditions.
He noted a recurring challenge of price fluctuations during harvest seasons. For instance, in the 2024/25 season, lentil prices fell sharply from 1,200 shillings per kilogram to 850 shillings, significantly affecting farmer earnings and cooperative revenue stability.
Tangawizi further observed that many AMCOS still rely on outdated technologies, limiting efficiency across agriculture, fishing, livestock, and mining sectors. He called for modernisation efforts to align cooperative operations with contemporary economic demands.
Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the commitment of cooperative members to drive economic transformation through production-focused initiatives. Representing the Geita Regional Commissioner, Geita District Commissioner Mr Hashimu Komba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening oversight and ensuring the sustainability of cooperatives.
He emphasised that all cooperatives must be registered in the digital Cooperative Management System (MUVU) to enhance accountability and long-term viability. He further instructed AMCOS to settle outstanding debts owed to both purchasing companies and farmers, stressing that cooperatives must operate profitably and avoid structural losses. He described delayed payments and unresolved debts as unacceptable and contrary to cooperative principles.
Mr Komba also underscored the importance of compliance with Microfinance Act of 2018 and its 2019 regulations, particularly for SACCOS. He noted that only 10 out of 28 SACCOS in the region are currently licensed by the Bank of Tanzania, calling for immediate corrective action.
He urged cooperative leaders to avoid mismanagement, including embezzlement, misuse of funds, and the use of cooperatives for personal enrichment.
Instead, he called for innovation, discipline and accountability in governance. In conclusion, he reaffirmed that the government envisions cooperatives as a central pillar of economic development for farmers, livestock keepers, fishermen, miners and entrepreneurs.
With proper reform, investment, and governance, cooperatives are expected to become strong economic engines capable of transforming livelihoods across the region